An Israeli agricultural biotechnology company reportedly hopes to test tissue-cultured banana varieties in major Australian growing areas. 

Website Weeklytimesnow.com.au reported the trial would aim to develop a banana variety ­resistant to the devastating Panama disease, which is affecting Queensland farms.

North Queensland growers recently visited the plant propagation, selection and breeding company Rahan Meristem, near Israel’s northwest border with Lebanon.

The company is the world’s leading exporter of tissue cultured banana and plantain, the story said.

It is already working with Filipino growers to identify Panama disease Tropical Race 4 (TR4) ­resistant types and is screening clonal material for TR4 resistance in the Netherlands.

Rahan Meristem hopes to pass Australian quarantine and establish two field trials in major growing areas, Weeklytimesnow.com.au reported.

The group's scientific director Eli Khayat told growers the company would then identify a laboratory for tissue culture and propagation of material.

“I am certain that our ­material will be helpful to growers in Australia,” Khayat was quoted as saying.

“We take superior clones of leading cultivated idio-types and evaluate them for increased yield and fruit ­quality in tropical and subtropical climates.

“This results in preferred selections of pest and disease-free banana cultivars and plants capable of increasing plantation profits.”